Scott is one of the boys, and he mirrors Cray's weak, permissive leadership. Why anyone expected better from him, I don't know. Dems have got to stop falling for GOP "nice guy" masquerades. Sue Mintner would have dealt with these good ole boys firmly and justly. Rallying issue, future elections.

Ali is a threat to establishment members of City Council, and they don't want him to have a win for the NPAs. The NPAs are grassroots democracy, and they are a natural base for Ali. As for opposition from NPAs, I saw negative remarks from the usual sources (either political opponents of Ali in Ward 7, or Shannon/Paul's South End NPAs that like a cozy relationship with the establishment). I don't know who the six nay votes were, but suspect they are the mayor's block. This mayor wants to keep the grassroots powerless. Developers don't like citizen participation. The mayor led a discussion of a book by Edward Glaeser who's no fan of community involvement in the planning process.

Cashman, you miss the point. Many people in Burlington asked the Church Street Marketplace Commission and City Council to replace the mural. Maier acted out of his own conscience, but he is aligned with people who recognize the damage a display of white supremacy does to all people, of every race and ethnicity, especially children. A significant number of residents stand with Maier and Higgins.

Cashman wrongly assumes Maiers acted "on behalf of people who never asked him to." I think Maier acted out of his own conscience, as a person who accepts responsibility for crimes against Native Americans and people of color represented by the parade of white privilege depicted in the mural. If he acted on behalf of anyone, it would be white people in Burlington who are grateful to, and will stand by, Maiers and Higgins.

There are individual panels. Auction each panel off. Hopefully the celebrities, notables, and businesses that paid to be included will pay to own the panel they appear in. Could result in some bidding wars! Proceeds to the King St Center, the Boys and Girls Club, the Miller Center and other groups that have multicultural programs for children.